Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-01-19
The Pastors Bride.

The Pastors Bride.
why, Maggie, you don't really in-
tend to? What Will everybody sayY''
And why should l care what they
say, Lucy? Mary is III, probably dan.
gerously SO, and can't see how .
would be wrong to go and see her."
"Well. 1 wouldn't go. II you dc
her family viii cut you. They're the
first people here. you know. BESIDES
even the minister says 1t is wrong t.
encourage such disobediencc as Mar,
showed. What viii he say?'' -
Il can't help what he says, Lucy. ,
think it is right. Mary did wrong ]
know, in marryii g against her parent5
consent: but that is 10 reason why s:ih'
should now lie left to perish.n
well. do as you please, but 1t
wouldn't be me that would go;'f ana
Lucy Morrison turned away from the
little gate In front of the Widow VIII
bJhn's cottage without giving the good
night Kiss that WAS usually bestowed on
her early friend.
Maggie gave one smothered sigh. as
she caught the last glimpse OF the re-
treating figure, and a tear-drop dimmed
her blue eyes as she thought of Mar
Walton's pale face and dropping form.
God did not inculcate the principle
that we should crush the erring." she
murmured, ''and surely poor Mary's
snferingS have partly atoned for her
dlSObedience.
The morrow found Maggie az the
beds de of the deserted, perhaps dyinr
wife. e
''here, let me arrange this pillow for
you, Mary" she whispered, smoothing
back the brown locks from foreheaG
that had once been handsome. There,
is not that more comfortable2n
{ ''Ohl yes. thank you. But Maggie
Miss Wiibohn, added she, looking u
through the mist of tears that kind
word had called forth, how much ease
1t is 70 die, knowing there Is some on
who can shed sympathizing tear ove
our inirmatles."
Maggie " ilbohn clasped the hand OF
the poor penitent in both her own dim
pied palms and said: ''Can | do any
thing more for you, Mary?"
mo. thank you; not for me-" she
answered. but when am gone, will
you be his frlendp" And she pointed to
her baby, that lay. poor innocent, sleep
ing beside her. 81 know my parents
Will never forgive me--father, when he
once has made up his mind, never
changes it-but, ohl they may softel
TO It" and she broke down In tears.
II will willl'' cried Maggie, SOB
biag. "But let me go to your father
Perhaps he will reIent-
Bot tie ear she addressed was already
dulled. In that moment of agony Mar
Wilton's spirit had passed 10 Its eterna
nabitation.
Willard Harwooi read the funeral
service a. the little church yard, where
: few friends We're assembled. With thg (
now repentaut parents, TO contine the
body TO its narrow house. The voice o.
the young minister was eloquent With
feeling as he spoke of the apostles
words. "Faith, hope and charity; but
the greatest of these iS charity"
He had heard OF Iaggie'S courageous
V SIT, and he looked toward her as he
sad that there was reason to believe tn
erring daughter had died peuitent. And
he ad1eJ in the words of Scripture:
''He that conveTteth the sinner from
the error of his way shall save SOU
from death and ssail hide multitude
of sins"
Ia a few weeks the village gossipers
began TO whisper that Mr.. HarwOO1
intended giving up his present boarding
place and occupying the little parsonage
iur his future residence. Numerous
were the surmises in regard to so strange
a procedure, but Ma ygie's demure lii
tie couGtenance revealed no suspicious
OF who was the intended mistress OF
the minister's coveted home.
At last, however, the secret could
no longer be kept, and it was known
that Maggie was to be the minister's
bride. Nor was it concealed tnat Mr..
Harwood, for he told the fact himself.
had first been attracted toward ber by
her conduct in reference TO poor Mary. !
The fathers wealth and social position, |
which had frightened others from in |
terfering had not deferred Maggie.
brave girl!'' the minister was re- |
ported to have SAID when lie heard o |
her visit; ''she has taught u all a les |
son."
So the parsonage was relltted. the
bells rang out a merry peal, and Mig
gid Harwood left the little brown cot !
tage as the envied bride of the talented !
young pastor, while Lucie, who had
stIaed the natural pity OF her heart !
because she feared to offend Mary's
family or lose position in Mr.. Elar
woods eyes, missed the prize which
she had secretly coveted all along.